2022 -- H 7377

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LC004307

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Perez, Vella-Wilkinson, and Williams

     Date Introduced: February 09, 2022

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 16-2-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-2 entitled "School

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Committees and Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education

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Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     16-2-5. Composition of city or town school committees -- Election and terms of

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members -- Vacancies.

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     The school committee of each city or town shall consist of three (3) residents of the city or

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town, or of any number as at the present time constitute the committee. In cities or towns having

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annual elections of city or town officers the committee shall be divided as equally as may be into

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three (3) classes whose several terms of office shall expire at the end of three (3) years from the

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dates of their respective elections. In cities or towns having biennial elections the committee shall

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be divided as equally as may be into two (2) classes whose several terms of office shall expire at

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the end of four (4) years from the dates of their respective elections. As the office of each class

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shall become vacant, the vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the city or town at its regular city

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or town meeting for the election of state or city or town officers, or by the city or town council at

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its next meeting after this. In case of a vacancy by death, resignation, or otherwise than as is

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provided in this section, the vacancy shall be filled by the city or town council until the next regular

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city or town meeting for the election of state or city or town officers, when it shall be filled for the

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unexpired term as is provided in this section. This section shall not apply to the cities of Providence,

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Central Falls, Woonsocket, or the Town of North Smithfield; provided, however, effective July 1,

 

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2026, and thereafter, this section shall apply to the city of Providence, and the city of Providence

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shall have an elected school committee.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect only upon approval of this act by a majority of the

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qualified electors of the said city of Providence voting at a general or special election, which

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election, if held, shall be held prior to July 1, 2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

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     This act would authorize the city of Providence to have an elected school committee, as

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opposed to an appointed school committee, effective July 1, 2026.

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     This act would take effect only upon approval of this act by a majority of the qualified

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electors of the said city of Providence voting at a general or special election, which election, if held,

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would be held prior to July 1, 2026.

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